Rookie cop sets off alarm at Gordon House
Published:Tuesday | March 24, 2015 | 6:45 PM
A spirited cry for 'reinforcement' and 'back-up' yesterday by a district constable on duty at Gordon House left at least two senior police officers livid, describing the action of their colleague as premature and "out of order".
Police patrol vehicles in the vicinity of Gordon House - the seat of the nation's Parliament - actually responded, only to discover that the district constable's plea for help was apparently exaggerated.
A senior police officer dismissed reports that a Jamaica Defence Force helicopter that was hovering in the vicinity of Parliament had also responded to the constable's urgent cry for back-up.
Eyewitnesses told The Gleaner that a fracas had broken out between supporters of the People's National Party (PNP) and members of the Jamaica Labour Party's Young Jamaica who had converged near a car park with dust masks on their faces, where the PNP group had gathered.
The Young Jamaica members were reportedly heckled and a dispute ensued which led to a physical confrontation between the opposing sides. At this point the district constable rushed past scores of police personnel, including senior officers on duty, and proceeded to raise an alarm calling for additional support on the police radio communication system.
When The Gleaner spoke with Deputy Superintendent of Police Lena McBean, she said there was no need for alarm despite the fact that the district constable appealed for help on the police radio.
She said the young constable breached protocol by failing to consult with his superiors who were standing before Parliament.
Another senior officer declared: "We are senior persons here he had no right to do that. He is out of order. He breached protocol."